Ski pole



'ec. 14, 1948. J. MGDl-:R 2,456305 SKI POLE Filed Jan. 8. 1947 mam Dec.14; .1948

Application January 8, 19547, serial No. 120,881 In Canada September 26,1946 Introduction This invention relates to a ski pole which may bevaried in length.

In skiing, the length of a ski pole depends not 'only upon the statureof the skier, but also on thetype of skiing he is doing.

It is therefore necessary for the merchant retailing the ordinary typeof ski poles to keep a large stock of different lengths.

Objects Therefore, it is a primary object of this inventlon to provide aski pole which is adiustable to various lengths.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a ski pole which isadjustable in length by a Preerred structure i A preferred structureembodying the objects comprises a ski pole having a pair of tubularmembers telescopically sliding one over the other. the smaller or innertube being pointed and carrying a snow ring at its lower extremity, and

the larger or outer tube having a grip at its upper end. Fixed on theupper end of the inside tubular member is a threaded head whichdiminishes in size forming shoulders. A pair of members forming a splitcollar are threadably engaged with the member which is fixed to the topof the inner tube. Shoulders formed on the inside of the split collarmembers are adapted to seat themselves on the Shoulders ofthe threadedhead when the outside periphery of the split collar member is lightlyengaged by the inside of the outer tubing. When the inner tube isrotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the screw threads on the headmember which are engaged with the split collar members tend to draw theShoulders of the split collar member against the Shoulders of the headmember. As this action is continued, the Shoulders tend to force thesplit collar member outwardly against the confines of the outer tubemember thereby looking the inner tube in a fixed position relative tothe outer tube.

This action of exp'anding the split collar may take place anywherewithin the length of the outer tubular member. By turning the innermember in a clockwise direction in'relation to the 2 cmms. (ci. iso-11.37)

outside tube, the split mi' member is' iifted in 'relationto the headmember, thus releasing the expanding pressure-of the split collar uponthe outside tube by the ciimbing action of the split -coilar over theShoulders of the head member. The'inner -tubular member is then releasedfrom tight frictional contact with the outer-tube and the two tubes arethen free for relative movement.

Detailed description The inventlon consists of the novel constructionand adaptation of an extensible head to a ski pole as described indetail with reference to th accompanying drawings, in which:

Flgure 1 is an elevation of a ski pole embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section of the inner tube showing theconstruction of the vhead member.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the inside of one half of the splitcollar member.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of the outer tubular member showingthe .split collars in'their expanded position flxing the inner tube inrelation to the outer tube.

Figure 5 is a section of a ski pole taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to'jthe drawings. Figure 1 shows a ski poleembodying the invention and consists of two tubular telescoped members,the outer tube being designated .by the figur'e Ill, and the inner tubeby the flgure 02. Fixed io the upper end of the outer tube IO is aclosure H and a conventional wrist ring IB. The lower end of the outertube IO is knurled at to facilitate gripping of the pole when adjustmentis necessary and a collar 20 having a flange, closely iits over theinner tube i! to prevent snow or water from entering between the twotubes'. On the lower end of the inner tube |2 is a .thumb screw 22 whichis threadably engaged to a boring which penetrates the tubing. Thisthumb screw is primarily used as a gripping member in order to turn theinner tube in relation to the outer tube when adiustment of the lengthof the pole is necessary. A conventional snow ring 24 and a pointed end26 finish off the lower section of the inner tube II.

Referring to Figure 2 which shows the upper end of the inner tube II, awedging member 2| is flxedly attached to the inner tube member- |2. Theshani;l of the wedging member 28 is threaded by screw threads 30 andabove the thread portion of the shank the diameter is diminishedproviding a shoulder or camming portion 32 above which theshank iscontinued with a neck or pin 24 of reduced diameter and topped by a head36. pair of co-operating Jam nuts 38, one of which is iilustrated inFlgure 3, are adapted to fit over the threaded shank and the shoulderpart of the.

head member. The inside proflles of the nuts 38 are identical to theoutside profile of the wedging member below the head 36. The screwthreads 40 are adapted to threadable engagement with the screw threads30 and the Shoulders 42 are adapted to seat on the shoulders 32 of thehead, so that when the two nuts 38 are held against the shank 28, theneck portion 44 flts over the portion 34 of the wedging member, theshoulders 42 are seated on the Shoulders 32 and the threads 4G are inthreaded engagement with the threads 20 on the wedging member.

In order to lock the inner tube l2 against longitudinal movement withinthe outer tube IO, the inner tube is rotated within the outer tu'be andthe frletional Acontact'of the members 38, which are lying comparativelyloosely on the wedging member 28 and against the inside walls of thetube IB, causes the two members 38 to be drawn downwardly by the threads30 meshed with the threads 40. This motion causes the two members 38 tobe forced outwardly by the sloping action of the camming portion 32against the Shoulders 42, which causes wedging apart of the nuts 3| andtheir jamming between the wall of the tube III and the wedging member30.

In order to change the length of the ski pole it is only necessary torotate the inner tube in the opposite direction, thereby causing thevtwo nuts 28 to resume their position higher up on the shank whichreleases them from pressure contact with the side walls of the tubingIB, sliding the inner tube within the outer tube to the desired lengthof the ski pole and then rotating the inner tube so that the nuts 38 areagain forced 'by the shoulder action against the inside walls of theouter tube.

Advantages The advantages achieved by this construction over that ofother types of adjustable ski poles now on the market, are that thelocking mechanism is completely enclosed within the ski pole,

thereby eliminating any chance of snow or ice packing around the workingparts, thus preventing use of the extensible function and also pre-'serving a clean outside to the ski pole, free from obstructions such asset screws and large collar members or holes drilled in the tubingwhich, as well as greatly decreasing the strength of the pole, willbecome clogged with ice and snow.

A further advantage of the applicant's construction makes it possible toadjust the pole without removing heavy ski mitts which would benecessary in the case of changing set screws of' adJusting collars.

It will be understood that without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the claims, various modifications may be madein the specific expedients disclosed. The latter are illustrative onlyand not restrictive, it being desired that only such limitations shallbe placed thereon as may be required by the state of the 'memberconstituting the snow-engaging portion of the pole and being provided atits "lower" end with a snow ring, the outer member constituting thehandle portion of the pole and being provided on its "upper" end with ahand grip, the "upper" end of the inner member being provided with anaxially projecting wedging member, said wedging member having a screwthreaded shank portion and an adjoining camming portion facing the"upper" end of the pole, a pln projecting axially from the head and acamming portion on the pin. a pair of complementary jam nuts each havinga threaded bore and an inwardly extending shoulder extendlng into saidbore at one end of the nut, the bore of the nuts being engaged by thethreaded shank portion at all times, the threaded shank portion onrelatlve rotation in one direction between the outer and inner memberbeing adapted to screw into the bore of the nuts thereby to force thecamming portion in an axial direction into engagement with the Shouldersof the Jam nuts thereby causing said jam nuts to be fonced outwardlyagainst the outer member thereby looking the poles against telescopicaxial movement, the head being adapted to limit the taxial movement ofthe jam nuts with respect to the wedging member.

2. A ski pole, according to claim 1, wherein the screw threaded portionis located between the 'caming portion and the end of'the inner tubularmember.

JESSE MAGDER.

REFERENCES CI'I'ED 'Ihrfollowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 653,642 Darling July 10, 19002,275,330 Tveten Mar. 3, 1942 2,367,198 Butler Jan. 16, 1945 Certificateof Correction Patent No. 2,456,205. December 14, 1948.

JESSE MAGDER It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printedspecification of the above numbered patent requirmg correction asfollows:

Column 4, line 27, claim 1, for the words head and a camming portionread camm'ng portion and a h'ead; line 46, claim 2, for Ucaming readcamm'ing;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these correctionstherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of April, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommssioner of Patents.

